Cable shackle



Nov. 7, 1967 I CABLE SHACKLE Filed June 4, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS DENNIS R. BINSTEAD GEORGE E. SCARR e. E. SCARR ETAL 3,350,750

NOV-7.1967 G. E. SCARR ETAL 3,350,750

CABLE SHACKLE Filed June 4, 1965 2 SheetsS heet 2 INVENTOR5 DENNIS R. ST GEORGE CA nited States Patent nice 3,350,759 Eatented Nov. 7, 1967 3,350,750 CABLE SHACKLE George E. Scarr, Vancouver, British Columbia, and Dennis R. Binstead, South Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, assignors to l) & B Rigging Supplies Ltd., Vancouver, British Qoiumbia, Canada, a corporation of Great Britain Filed June 4, 1965, Ser. No. 461,332 25 (Ilaims. (El. 24-426) This invention relates to shackles particularly for wire cables.

This shackle is primarily designed for a cable having an eye formed on an end thereof. The shackle includes a loop through which the cable extends, and the eye of the cable is placed between a pair of arms projecting from the shackie loop, and a pin connected to said arms extends through the cable eye. For some purposes the cable may be left free to slide through the shackle loop, but for other purposes, a wedge is provided in the loop and which is adapted to be driven into the loop to jam the cable against movement therethrough.

The pin is provided with means for preventing it from becoming completely separated from the shackle arms without interfering with the normal operation of the shackle. The wedge also is provided with means for preventing it from becoming separated from the shackle loop. These features make the shackle very useful for work around water, and particularly useful for swifter cables used in making up log booms. Swifter cables extend across the logs in the boom and are connected to the side sticks which extend along the sides of the boom. The shackle cannot slip off the cable because of the eye on the end of the latter, and the pin and wedge cannot be separated from the shackle. Thus the possibility of loss of the shackle, pin and/ or wedge is eliminated.

Another feature of this cable shackle is that the pin is oflset relative to the loop so that when strain is placed on the portion of the cable connected to the pin, the loop puts a slight bend in the portion of the cable passing therethrough to help retain the shackle in proper position on the latter portion.

The cable shackle is so designed that the ends of the pin cannot normally be struck by outside objects. This reduces the possibility of the pin being subjected to a blow which would cause it to shift out or partly out of the cable eye. A cotter pin usually extends through the shackle pin inside one of the arms of the shackle, and with ordinary shackles, the cotter pin is often sheared off as a result of a heavy blow applied to an end of the shackle pin.

Examples of this invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View, partly in section, of one form of cable shackle,

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal section through the shackle taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a shackle having a wedge therein, part of said shackle being broken away,

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary cross section taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4, and

FIGURES 6 and 7 diagrammatically illustrate the operation of the shackle with a wedge therein.

Referring to FIGURES l to 3 of the drawings, 10 is a cable shackle having a bridge 11 extending longitudinally thereof. A loop 12 is connected to the bridge on one side thereof. Loop 12 is formed with side walls 15 and 16 connected to bridge 11 and extending outwardly therefrom, and an outer Wall 17 interconnecting said side walls. The bridge and the walls of loop 12 form a bore 20 extending through the loop longitudinally of the shackle. In this example, bridge 11 and outer wall 17 curve away from each other in a direction extending longitudinally of the shackle to form enlarged entrances 22 and 23 at opposite ends of bore 20, see FIGURE 2.

A pair of spaced substantially parallel arms 28 and 29 are connected to bridge 11 on the opposite side thereof from loop 12 project outwardly from said bridge, and form a gap 32 therebetween. A pin 35 extends across gap 32 and is movably connected to arms 28 and 29, said pin being spaced outwardly from bridge 11. By referring to FIGURES l and 2, it will be seen that arms 28 and 29 are generally inclined relative to bridge 11. This is not essential, but is very useful when the shackle is used for some purposes.

Arms 29 and 30 are formed with holes 38 and 39 therethrough adjacent their outer ends, said holes being of such size and shape that the ends of pin 35 slidably fit therein. If arms 28 and 29 are not thick enough to provide good bearings for the pin, bosses 41 and 42 may be formed on the outer surfaces of arms 28 and 29 respectively at holes 38 and 39 to provide the necessary bearing surfaces. A wall 44 is formed on boss 42 over arm hole 39, said wall having an opening 45 therethrough centrally thereof. When pin 35 extends across gap 32, an end thereof abuts against wall 44, see FIGURE 3. A projection 48 is formed on and radiates from pin 35 adjacent but spaced from its end 49. When the pin end abuts against wall 44, projection 48 fits into an indentation 50 formed in the inner surface of arm 29, said projection preferably being clear of the bottom of the indentation, as shown at 51 in FIG- URE 3. When pin end 49 abuts wall 44, the opposite end 54 of said pin is preferably flush with the outer surface of boss 41, see FIGURE 3.

Pin 35 is formed with a diametrical hole 58 extending therethrough, said hole being aligned with a groove 59 formed in the inner surface of arm 23 when pin end 49 abuts wall 44. A cotter pin, not shown, inserted through pin hole 58 and lying in groove 59 retains pin 35 in position extending across gap 32.

FIGURES 4 to 7 illustrate a cable shackle 10a which is slightly different from shackle 10. Shackle 10a has a wedge extending through the loop thereof. Although a wedge can be provided in bore 20 of shackle 12, it is preferable to change the shape of the bridge and the outer wall of the loop when a wedge is to be used. In shackle Illa, bridge 11a is substantially flat in a longitudinal direction while outer wall 17a of loop 12a also is substan tially fiat in a longitudinal direction.

Wedge 65 is preferabiy much longer than loop 12a. The wedge tapers inwardly towards its end 67 which projects from the shackle in the same direction as the incline of arms 28 and 29, see FIGURES 6 and 7. The end 67 of the wedge is preferably formed with a curve 69 which extends away from bridge 11a. It is preferable to provide a groove 70 in and extending longitudinally of the lower edge of wedge 65.

A longitudinal slot 72 is formed in a side of wedge 65 and terminates short of the ends of said Wedge, and a pin 73 connected to loop 12a projects inwardly thereof and slidably fits in said slot, see FIGURE 5.

The arm and pin arrangements of shackles 10 and 10a are identical. When either of these shackles is in use, a cable 78 extends through loop 12 or 12a, and an eye 79 formed on the end of this cable is positioned in gap 32 between arms 28 and 29. Pin 35 extends through eye 79 to connect the cable to the shackle. At this time, pin 35 is held in position by a cotter pin, not shown, extending through the pin hole 53 and positioned in groove 59 of arm 28. The end 49 of the pin abuts against wall 44 while the opposite end 54 of said pin is flush with the outer surface of arm boss 41. Projection 48 at this time fits in indentation 50 but preferably is clear of the bottom of said indentation, as shown in FIGURE 3. Wall 44 protects one end of the pin against blows from outside objects, while the fact that end 54 of the pin is flush with the adjacent surface of boss 41 protects said end from most blows. If end 54 of the pin is struck, the force of the blow is taken by wall 44 at the opposite end of the pin. When it is desired to release cable 78, one way is to remove the cotter pin, and to insert a blunt instrument through opening 45 of wall 44 to drive the pin out of arm hole 39. However, in most cases the cotter pin is not removed, but is sheared by a sharp blow against the end of pin 54 at opening 45. The pin can then move through arm hole 38 until projection 48 engages arm 28, at which time the cable is free, while the projection prevents the pin from being completely withdrawn from the shackle.

When shackle 10 is used, the portion of cable 78 extending through loop 12 is free in said loop. However, if a pull is exerted on the portion of the cable leading to pin 35, the shackle is tipped relative to the portion of the able extending through loop 12 so that there is a tendency for said loop to move a portion of the cable out of alignment with the remainder thereof so that the loop tends to bind on said portion. The longitudinal curve of outer wall 17 prevents the cable from being bent too sharply at this time.

Cable shackle 10a has wedge 65 extending through loop 12a thereof. When the shackle has been shifted along the cable to a desired position, wedge 65 is moved inwardly of the loop to cause the large end of said wedge to jam the cable in said loop. This prevents movement of the shackle along the cable. When pull is exerted on the portion of the cable extending to pin 35, the shackle tips as shown in FIGURE 7, at which time end 67 of wedge 65 bears against the cable to put a slight bend therein, as shown at 80 in FIGURE 7, and this helps to prevent movement of the shackle along the cable under very great strain. The curve 69 of the end of the wedge prevents the cable from being bent too sharply at 80. When the cable is relaxed and it is desired to move the shackle therealong, it is only necessary to hit the small end of wedge 65 to drive it inwardly relative to loop 12a, at which time the shackle is free to move along said cable. Pin 73 riding in slot 72 prevents the wedge from being separated from the shackle.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. A cable shackle comprising a bridge, a pair of spaced arms projecting outwardly from one side of the bridge and forming a gap therebetween, a pin extending across the gap between and movably connected to the arms spaced outwardly thereof from the bridge, said pin being movable relative to the arms to clear the gap, a loop connected to the bridge on the opposite side thereof from the arms, said loop having sides near and extending away from said arms and a bore extending substantially normal to the pin, whereby a cable having an eye formed on an end thereof can extend through the loop bore and have said eye positioned in the gap with the pin extending therebetween, and a wedge extending through the loop bore, said wedge being adapted to jam the cable in the loop.

2. A shackle as claimed in claim 1 including means on the pin permitting movement thereof back and forth across the gap while preventing removal of the pin from the arms.

3. A shackle as claimed in claim 1 in which one end of the wedge is formed with a curve extending away from the bridge.

4. A shackle as claimed in claim 1 including means at said loop for permitting movement of the wedge back and forth in said bore while preventing removal of the wedge from the shackle.

5. A shackle as claimed in claim 1 in which the arms are substantially parallel to each other and are generally inclined relative to and in a direction away from the bridge.

6. A shackle as claimed in claim in which the arms are substantially parallel to each other and are generally inclined relative to and in a direction away from the bridge, and said wedge tapering inwardly towards one end thereof in the same direction as the incline of the arms.

7. A shackle as claimed in claim 6 in which one end of the wedge is formed with a curve extending away from the bridge.

8. A shackle as claimed in claim 1 in which the ends of the pin slidably fit in holes in said arms, and including a radial projection on the pin near but spaced from one end thereof positioned to prevent the pin from being moved in an endwise direction outwardly through the hole of either arm.

9. A shackle as claimed in claim 8 including a wall over the holes into which said one end of the pin fits at the outer side of the arm, said wall having a hole therethrough of smaller size than the cross sectional size of the pin.

10. A shackle as claimed in claim 9 in which the pin is of such length that when said one end of the pin engages said wall of the adjacent arm, the opposite end of the pin does not project outwardly beyond the outer surface of the arm opposite said adjacent arm.

11. A shackle as claimed in claim 10 including a groove in the inner surface of said opposite arm aligned with a diametrical hole through the pin when said end of the pin engages said wall and adapted to receive a cotter pin extending through said diametrical hole.

12. A shackle as claimed in claim 10 in which said adjacent arm is formed with a depression in the inner surface thereof at the hole therein into which said projection fits when said one end of the pin engages said wall.

13. A shackle as claimed in claim 1 in which said wedge is formed with a longitudinal slot in a side thereof terminating short of the opposite ends of the wedge, and including a pin connected to said loop and projecting inwardly thereof and slidably fitting in said slot.

14. A cable shackle comprising a bridge, a loop connected to the bridge on one side thereof and having a bore extending along the bridge and through which a cable can extend, a wedge extending through the loop bore and adapted to jam the cable extending therethrough, said wedge having a large end at one end of the loop and tapering to a small end near the opposite end of the loop, a pair of arms projecting from the opposite side of the opposite side of the bridge, said arms being laterally spaced apart to form a gap therebetween, and said gap being substantially in the same general plane as the wedge, and a pin connected to the arms and extending across the gap therebetween, said arms being generally inclined relative to and longitudinally of the bridge in a direction away from the large end of the wedge, whereby an eye connected to said cable can be positioned in the gap with the pin extending through said eye. I 15. A shackle as claimed in claim 14 in which the pin is movably connected to the arms, and including means on the pin permitting movement thereof back and forth across the gap while preventing removal of the pin from the arms.

16. A shackle as claimed in claim 14 in which the wedge is larger than the bore and loop and the small end of the wedge is spaced outwardly from said loop when the cable is jammed against the bridge.

17. A shackle as claimed in claim 16 in which the small end of the wedge is formed with a curve extending away from the bridge.

18. A shackle as claimed in claim 16 including means at said loop for permitting movement of the wedge back and forth in said bore while preventing removal of the wedge from the shackle.

19. A shackle as claimed in claim 16 in which said wedge is formed with a longitudinal slot in a side thereof terminating short of the opposite ends of the wedge, and including a pin connected to said loop and projecting inwardly thereof and slidably fitting in said slot.

20. A shackle as claimed in claim 15 in which the ends of the pin slidably fit in holes in said arms, and the means on the pin preventing removal thereof from the arms comprises a radial projection on the pin near but spaced from one end thereof positioned to prevent the pin from being moved in an endwise direction outwardly through the hole of either arm.

21. A shackle as claimed in claim 15 in which the ends of the pin slidably fit in holes in said arms, and the means on the pin preventing removal thereof from the arms comprises a radial projection on the pin near but spaced from one end thereof positioned to prevent the pin from being moved in an endwise direction outwardly through the hole of either arm, and including a wall over the hole into which said one end of the pin fits at the outer side of the arm, said wall having a hole therethrough of smaller size than the cross sectional size of the pin.

22. A shackle as claimed in claim 15 in which the ends of the pin slidably fit in holes in said arms, and the means on the pin preventing removal thereof from the arms comprises a radial projection on the pin near but spaced from one end thereof positioned to prevent the pin from being moved in an endwise direction outwardly through the hole of either arm, and including a wall over the hole into which said one end of the pin fits at the outer side of the arms, said wall having a hole therethrough of smaller size than the cross sectional size of the pin, said pin being of such length that when said one end of the pin engages said wall of the adjacent arm, the opposite end of the pin does not project outwardly beyond the outer surface of the arm opposite said adjacent arm.

23. A shackle as claimed in claim 15 in which the ends of the pin slidably fit in holes in said arms, and the means on the pin preventing removal thereof from the arms comprises a radial projection on the pin near but spaced from one end thereof positioned to prevent the pin from being moved in an endwise direction outwardly through the hole of either arm, and including a wall over the hole into which said one end of the pin fits at the outer side of the arms, said wall having a hole therethrough of smaller size than the cross sectional size of the pin, said pin being of such length that when said one end of the pin engages said wall of the adjacent arm, the opposite end of the pin does not project outwardly beyond the outer surface of the arm opposite said adjacent arm, and

a groove in the inner surface of said opposite arm aligned with a diametrical hole through the pin when said end of the pin engages said wall and adapted to receive a cotter pin extending through said diametrical hole.

24. A shackle as claimed in claim 15 in which the ends of the pin slidably fit in holes in said arms, and the means on the pin preventing removal thereof from the arms comprises a radial projection on the pin near but spaced from one end thereof positioned to prevent the pin from being moved in an endwise direction outwardly through the hole of either arm, and including a Wall over the hole into which said one end of the pin fits at the outer side of the arms, said wall having a hole therethrough of smaller size than the cross sectional size of the pin, said pin being of such length that when said one end of the pin engages said wall of the adjacent arm, the opposite end of the pin does not project outwardly beyond the outer surface of the arm opposite said adjacent arm, said adjacent arm being formed with a depression in the inner surface there of at the hole therein into which said projection fits when said one end of the pin engages said wall.

25. A shackle as claimed in claim 15 including a hole extending diametrically through said pin near the inner surface of one of said arms when the pin is in normal position, and a groove formed in said inner surface of said one arm aligned with said pin hole, whereby a cotter pin in and extending along said arm groove can extend through the pin hole.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 843,689 2/ 1907 McClintock. 1,114,235 10/1914 DeCarteret 24-136 1,177,856 4/1916 Gaydeski. 1,355,004 10/1920 Sandford 24-136 1,419,974 6/ 1922 McLaughlin 59-86 1,864,974 6/ 1932 Buckley.

FOREIGN PATENTS 221,765 5/ 1959 Australia.

665,020 1/ 1952 Great Britain.

311,586 10/1933 Italy.

BERNARD A. GELAK, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CABLE SHACKLE COMPRISING A BRIDGE, A PAIR OF SPACED ARMS PROJECTING OUTWARDLY FROM ONE SIDE OF THE BRIDGE AND FORMING A GAP THEREBETWEEN, A PIN EXTENDING ACROSS THE GAP BETWEEN AND MOVABLY CONNECTED TO THE ARMS SPACED OUTWARDLY THEREOF FROM THE BRIDGE, SAID PIN BEING MOVABLE RELATIVE TO THE ARMS TO CLEAR THE GAP, A LOOP CONNECTED TO THE BRIDGE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE THEREOF FROM THE ARMS, SAID LOOP HAVING SIDES NEAR AND EXTENDING AWAY FROM SAID ARMS AND A BORE EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO THE PIN, WHEREBY A CABLE HAVING AN EYE FORMED ON AN END THEREOF CAN EXTEND THROUGH THE LOOP BORE AND HAVE SAID EYE POSITIONED IN THE GAP WITH THE PIN EXTENDING THEREBETWEEN, AND A WEDGE EXTENDING THROUGH THE LOOP BORE, SAID WEDGE BEING ADAPTED TO JAM THE CABLE IN THE LOOP. 